Newsroom & Blog

Years of deferred maintenance have left our National Parks and other public lands with deteriorating infrastructure and crumbling trails, roads, and visitor centers. By establishing the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Fund, the Great American Outdoors Act ensures safe access to the healing benefits and sacred experience of God’s creation for our children today and for generations to come. Immediate, shovel-ready jobs restoring our Parks’ aging infrastructure and preserving the natural beauty of God’s creation will provide a desperately needed economic boost to communities and workers across America.

The Growing Climate Solutions Act provides a way for the agricultural community, especially family farms, to increase income, enrich soil, sequester carbon, and to be empowered as part of the climate solution.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12. These words of Jesus define our ministry and guide our mission. Therefore, we are compelled to speak out to society at large and especially to others in the evangelical community. Any affront to a child of God must be an affront to all Christians and all people. All humans are created in the image of God (Gen 1:26), and what God has created let no one call profane. To keep silent on the injustice of racism is a disregard to Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our pro-life values flow from these teachings. All human life is sacred. Sadly, that Biblical truth has not been equally valued in America. To our brothers and sisters of color, we can stand with you, shield you, love you and proclaim that your life matters.

As pro-life Christians, defending children’s health remains at the core of who we are. That’s why we are pleased that Pennsylvania’s Department of Environment Protection just released its standard for Control of VOC Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Sources for public comment.

In times such as these, we need to move forward, not backward. That’s why we are disappointed in some members of our Pennsylvania Legislature who are so clearly unmoved by our dismal air and water quality that threatens children's health today and tomorrow. These members are preventing us from moving forward to a clean, healthy future.

President Donald Trump and his Administration claim to be pro-life, but their actions time and again prove otherwise. Today, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler has completely disregarded his agency’s mission of protecting human health by finalizing his dangerous plan to alter the lifesaving Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS).

With this rollback, the Trump Administration continues to lie about its dangerous and harmful environmental policies. In true Orwellian fashion, an EPA spokesperson said this gutting of fuel economy standards will reduce pollution, increase fuel economy, and make vehicles more affordable. It will do the exact opposite.

Let’s work together for the good of all Pennsylvanians by dealing with the social and economic impact of the Coronavirus first and then working together in a bipartisan way to incentivize good paying jobs that don’t threaten our children’s lives.

We care deeply for all of those in the U.S. and around the world who are feeling the impacts of this pandemic. During this challenging time, we hope you are staying safe and acting out of love for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Senators Portman (R-OH), Warner (D-VA), Gardner (R-CO), Manchin (D-WV) and Daines (R-MT) introduced an important bill that would address the growing National Park Service deferred maintenance backlog and provide full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). It is well past time to restore and repair our national parks and we are thankful for the leadership of these Senators!

As the majority of U.S. Citizens now recognize the need for robust climate action, this is a step forward as we pray for the Senate and Congress to follow the lead of Americans and provide vigorous climate, energy, and advanced technology research policy.

The Trump Administration is at it again. They’re trying to severely undermine one of our nation’s most important environmental laws, the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA. Every law, every policy can be improved. But when it comes to creation-care policies we certainly don’t trust the Trump Administration to do it!

If people of faith can come together to find our place in this work, we can help deliver the change we need, tree-by-tree. Churches and other houses of worship have land that can be used to plant and care for trees. People of faith can also take this action around their homes, and become involved in tree planting projects in their communities.

Overall, this bill is good news for our climate and all of God’s bountiful creation. We are thankful for Senators Portman, Udall, and Stabenow and encourage Congress to swiftly pass this important legislation.

Pennsylvania is the third-largest greenhouse gas polluting state and the second-largest producer of natural gas in the country at a time when the Environmental Protection Agency has recently moved to eliminate the direct regulation of oil and natural gas production. Pennsylvania has a clear moral obligation to control its emissions.

The Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) is pleased to support the bipartisan RECYCLE Act proposed by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The RECYCLE Act, which stands for “Recycling Enhancements to Collection and Yield through Consumer Learning and Education,” authorizes and instructs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a grant program for communities to improve their recycling programs via education and outreach.

2019 has been a great year for our ministry at EEN. We are so thankful for all of our supporters who helped to make this year meaningful. Below you'll find some of our favorite highlights from 2019. Please consider giving a year-end gift today to help make 2020 our best year yet!

While Thanksgiving is about being with loved ones and pausing to give thanks for the many blessings God has given us, Giving Tuesday is a chance to shift our attention to our hopes for the future. What a great way to end Thanksgiving and move forward into the Christmas season!

The Evangelical Environmental Network is grateful for the leadership of Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) concerning their introduction of the TICK Act, (which stands for Ticks: Identify, Control, and Knock Out). We applaud Senators Collins and Smith for introducing this important legislation that seeks “to provide assistance to combat the escalating burden of Lyme disease and other tick and vector-borne diseases and disorders.”

Our friends at A Rocha recently released the following statement about a fatal car accident involving A Rocha international staff. ** Press statement: A Rocha International staff in fatal accident in South Africa

We know that bipartisanship is key to defending children from the climate crisis, and that is why we are so pleased by the new bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus. This new effort, led by Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), creates a hopeful path forward for meaningful action.

We are deeply disappointed by the results of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) vote today on the Administration’s plan to replace the Clean Power Plan (CPP) with the so-called “Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule.”

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has announced that PA will be joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This is great news for children’s health! RGGI helps to combat the market failure that has led to the cost of fossil fuels being hidden in the bodies of our children.

A conservative is someone who recognizes reality for what it is and faces up to it. A patriot is someone who puts his or her country’s interests above their own when called upon.

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08), along with Francis Rooney (R-FL-19) Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), and Scott Peters (D-CA-52) have recognized the problem of climate change and have proposed an effective solution: a well-structured carbon tax that meets our pollution reduction commitments under the Paris Climate Accord. With his leadership as the lead sponsor, Congressman Fitzpatrick has shown that he is a true conservative and patriot. We are honored to support his leadership. We are also grateful to Congressmen Rooney, Carbajal, and Peters for joining with Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Pollution harms the unborn, causing damage that lasts a lifetime. Dirty air and water has serious consequences for the health of our children and other vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. This is why pro-life Christians must lead the charge on clean energy, and why the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) supports a 100% clean energy economy that avoids dangerous interference with the climate system.

For far too long coal companies have not cleaned up their own messes, leaving the rest of us to suffer the consequences and pay the bill. That’s why we applaud the leadership of Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8th). We are glad to see that his bill, H.R. 4435, the Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act of 2019, was recently introduced, and will be considered by the Committee on Natural Resources tomorrow (9-24-19). We encourage the Committee to move the bill quickly through to the House floor, where we hope it will be passed with strong bipartisan support.

Recently, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf re-committed to reducing emissions from the natural gas industry in the wake of “irresponsible rollback of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” from the Trump Administration. We applaud these efforts and encourage Gov. Wolf to ensure that these plans move forward before the end of the year.

"Limiting wasteful methane leaks is good stewardship, and protecting our kids from their harmful health impacts is pro-life. With its announcement today, the Trump Administration has again made clear that it is neither interested in practicing good stewardship nor protecting our kids. This rollback is bad for the unborn and pregnant women, bad for young families, and bad for God's creation." The Rev. Mitch Hescox, President/CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN)

It’s summer and it’s hot. When you move from air-conditioned offices to cars to homes, it’s easy to forget that fact. Two hundred million people are being affected by the heat in the U.S. alone right now and heat-related deaths top all other weather-related fatalities.

Today, President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt finalized their immoral revisions to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The new regulations will make it harder to protect threatened species, which will lead to more endangered species and even extinction. This is the opposite of the biblical call to stewardship. The plan also undermines the ESA by allowing for economic considerations to determine whether protections will be provided. We reject these changes, and we will continue to oppose any efforts that weaken the Act and threaten God’s creatures.

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. That is why we welcome new solutions from our elected officials that seek to reduce harmful emissions and promote sustainable prosperity. Today, Senators Coons (D-DE) and Feinstein (D-CA) have introduced the Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019 which will place a price on carbon and help reduce emissions.

Bill Wehrum, the chief air quality official at the Environmental Protection Agency, will be stepping down from his role as head of the Office of Air and Radiation at the end of the month. Praise God! Mr. Wehrum did not take seriously the mission of the EPA to protect human health and the environment, and we pray that his replacement will.

Today the Trump Administration finalized its “Affordable Clean Energy Rule” (ACE) as a replacement to the Clean Power Plan (CPP). Climate change is the greatest moral challenge of our time and this effort to dismantle the CPP is a major step backward. The CPP aimed to reduce climate pollution by 32% from 2005 levels by 2030, and ACE would only reduce pollution by, at most, 1.5 percent. By the EPA’s own estimates, ACE would lead to as many as 1,400 premature deaths per year. This is unacceptable and immoral. Rev. Mitch Hescox, President/CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network

Fixing natural gas leaks is pro-life and good stewardship. That is why we support Representative Diana DeGette’s (D, CO-1) Methane Waste Prevention Act of 2019 to reverse the Trump administration roll-back on methane leak standards on new sources and Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) regulation to reduce methane pollution on public lands under BLM’s jurisdiction. Representative DeGette’s bill is a critical measure to protect public health, solve the climate crisis, and cut methane waste and pollution.

The Evangelical Environmental Network is grateful for the leadership of Pennsylvania state Senator Tom Killion (R-Delaware County) and state Representative Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia), along with over 80 bipartisan cosponsors, for reintroducing legislation to transition the state to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

The Climate Action Now Act, which reaffirms the U.S. contribution to the international Paris Climate Accord, is up for a vote. Given its 224 cosponsors, it’s passage is a foregone conclusion. Great news, right? What’s not to like? I so wish I could be for it. But I can’t.

Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolf announced today that the state will join the United States Climate Alliance, becoming the 24th state committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord. His administration also released an updated version of Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan in conjunction with the announcement.

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has had a remarkable career — but it’s not over yet! It just might be that his crowning achievement awaits before his final term ends in 2020. I’m talking about his New Manhattan Project For Clean Energy, an updated version of a plan he first introduced over a decade ago. Many times successful legislation is something a seasoned legislator has had in his or her back pocket, waiting for the right moment. The buzz generated around the concept of a Green New Deal could help create the political conditions to make the New Manhattan Project For Clean Energy a reality.

Evangelicals believe that “clean air, pure water and adequate resources are crucial to public health and civic order. Therefore, government has an obligation to protect its citizens from environmental degradation and from human suffering that it causes.”

MATS has worked, is saving lives, and is cost effective. The Mercury and Air Toxics Standard needs to be left as is.
Every parent & grandparent wants a quality life for their children & grandchildren. Allowing MATS to be changed or rolled back is simply morally wrong.

We are thankful that Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) will oppose the confirmation of Andrew Wheeler as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mr. Wheeler currently serves as the Acting Administrator.

We are thankful for the announcement today that Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) will oppose the confirmation of Andrew Wheeler as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mr. Wheeler currently serves as the Acting Administrator.

This has been a great week in Congress for our national parks and public lands. Senate recently passed the largest public lands bill in a decade and today both chambers of Congress reintroduced bipartisan legislation to to address the critical maintenance needs of our beloved national parks. We applaud the leaders in Congress who are dedicated to protecting these special places.

We are grateful for the renewed interest in Congress for action on climate change — and none too soon, because the threat has become our reality, and the danger is outpacing our current efforts to overcome it. That’s why we are pleased with the re-introduction of “The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (EICDA)” by Representatives Tom Rooney, (R-FL 7) and Ted Deutch (D-FL 22).

A Statement by
The Rev. Mitch Hescox,
President/CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network

As a pro-life organization, we are thankful for the leadership Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is providing on mercury pollution. Her bill to establish a monitoring system, the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act, recently reintroduced, is an important part of protecting our children from mercury pollution.

December 28, 2018 | YORK, PA—In what amounts to a Christmas stocking filled with coal, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler presented our children, both preborn and born – as well as pregnant women or those who hope to become pregnant – the gift of one of the most serious neurotoxins, mercury.

The recent election has renewed interest in Congress for action on climate change — and none too soon because the threat has become our reality, and the danger is outpacing our current efforts to overcome it. That’s why we are pleased with the introduction of a Senate companion to the House’s carbon fee bill “The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018 (EICDA)” by Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Chris Coons (D-DE).

For many years we have worked to protect pregnant mothers and the unborn against exposure to mercury. In 2012 we supported the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury Rule. Now the EPA is planning on overturning the regulation. We urge you to reconsider this action.

On December 17, 2018 – the anniversary of the Clean Air Act – the public comment period ended for President Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s rollback of rules to cut pollution from oil and gas facilities. These rules, known as the EPA’s New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), are extremely important for pro-life Christians.

2018 was another year full of travel for the EEN team as we connected with communities to talk about creation care. Here are some highlights from the past year along with a list of other cities, schools, and churches we've visited to spread the word about our ministry and meet new folks!

Did you know that over 300,000 PA children attend school within 0.5 miles of a natural gas facility, exposing them to cancer causing chemicals and threatening toxins? It is time we defend our children from these threats and ask Gov. Wolf to step forward with strong protections that cut methane and harmful pollution from existing natural gas operations.

Will you send an email to Gov. Wolf today? We have provided email addresses and a sample email below. Feel free to send it as-is, or edit as you see fit! Thank you for reaching out today to protect the children of PA. If you have an extra moment, drop us a note at support@creationcare.org to let us know you spoke out today!

The recent election has renewed interest in Congress for action on climate change — and none too soon, because the threat has become our reality, and the danger is outpacing our current efforts to overcome it. That’s why we are pleased with the introduction of “The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018 (EICDA)” by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 8), Tom Rooney, (R-FL 7), John Delaney (D-MD 6), Ted Deutch (D-FL 22), and Charlie Crist (D-FL 13).

Hate has enveloped our nation. The tragic killing of eleven worshippers and wounding of four police officers this past Saturday at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh is the latest tragic confirmation. As Jesus’ disciples, we abhor this violence and the hate that inspired it. However, as we deplore this past weekend’s events, we recognize that it is part of a larger pattern. Pipe bombs, countless school shootings, and the evil racist actions in Charleston and Charlottesville demonstrate that hate is raging throughout the United States.

The Trump Administration’s attacks on the health and welfare of children just keep coming, from the rollback of mercury protections to the now aborted policy of separating children from their parents at the border.

We simply can’t believe it. We are stunned and appalled that the Trump Administration — who proclaims to be pro-life — would take away one of the best environmental protections for the unborn that our country has ever produced. We are talking about the Administration’s attempt to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, which was finalized in December 2011.

Today, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to weaken the EPA’s New Source Performance Standards, which have been in force for almost a year. Once again, President Trump demonstrates that he is not pro-life as these standards would protect the lives of children, both born and unborn. This action proves yet again that the Administration only values fossil fuels interests and not the health of our children that President Trump promised to protect.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Committee Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) recently introduced the “Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act”, a bipartisan effort to address the deferred maintenance backlog in our parks by establishing the National Park Service and Public Lands Restoration Fund. We applaud this bipartisan effort to address the critical maintenance needs of our beloved national parks.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Committee Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) recently introduced the “Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act”, a bipartisan effort to address the deferred maintenance backlog in our parks by establishing the National Park Service and Public Lands Restoration Fund. We applaud this bipartisan effort to address the critical maintenance needs of our beloved national parks.

Over 16,000 pro-life Christians from across the country have recently signed a petition asking that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be protected from drilling. The reason they are speaking out is because they are “called by God to be a steward of America’s majesty.” And the Arctic Refuge is one of the most majestic places in our nation.

Governor Wolf released a statement today finalizing new permits and standards that will implement no-nonsense measures to reduce methane and toxic air pollutant emissions from natural gas infrastructure, requiring regular leak detection and repair for unconventional gas operations, among other things.

What does it mean to be an evangelical today? The election and presidency of Donald Trump and the candidacy of Roy Moore in Alabama has raised this question to a fever pitch. Some who identified as evangelical are now disavowing the term.

Our public lands are national treasures to be stewarded and preserved for us and our children, and are part of our worship of God. If the courts allow President Trump’s reckless act to stand, it will severely weaken the Antiquities Act’s ability to protect public lands.

For years EEN has been helping pro-life Christians oppose pollution from our natural gas infrastructure, especially methane and volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Why? It’s simple — because they harm human health, especially the unborn. The leaks, venting, and flaring from the natural gas industry spew out smog precursors, as well as other toxic pollutants and cancer-causing agents like benzene. Studies have shown that smog, VOCs, and air toxics have a disproportionate impact upon life in the womb; for those near production sites the emissions have been linked to birth defects, pre-term births, and low-birth-weight babies, who are at greater risk of infant mortality, ADHD and asthma, among other things. In addition, methane is highly potent greenhouse gas, 86 times stronger than CO2 at trapping heat over a 20-year timeframe. This is crucial, because it is the next 10-20 years that will determine whether we keep the world safe from catastrophic climate impacts.

We have been promoting and defending strong mercury standards for years. In December 2018, EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler proposed altering or rolling back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard and our defense of this standard has not ceased.

God shed His grace on America, giving us a beautiful country from sea to shining sea.

Our lands are our great American heritage. We must protect their beauty and this legacy for our kids and grandkids by supporting policies and actions that preserve God’s creation and the right for all Americans to use and enjoy these places.

Today President Obama continued his significant leadership on climate change with the release of a Presidential Memorandum (PM) on Climate Change and National Security, that requires climate change to be “considered in the development of national security-related doctrine, policies, and plans.”

The parks do not belong to one state or to one section.... The Yosemite, the Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon are national properties in which every citizen has a vested interest; they belong as much to the man [SIC] of Massachusetts, of Michigan, of Florida, as they do to the people of California, of Wyoming, and of Arizona. -- Stephen T. Mather, founding Director, National Park Service

In the New Testament of the Bible, we find these words: “the whole creation has been groaning.” All creation groans over the evil tragedies that keep occurring around the world. For Americans, the evil became real again in Orlando this past week. First, singer, Christina Grimmie, then over 100 shooting deaths and injuries and if those horrific events weren’t enough, the loss of a two-year old from a part of the same groaning creation seems to put a massive exclamation point on Orlando.

Nearly 50,000 pro-life Christians in Texas are calling for Gov. Abbott to create a plan for the state to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2030, as part of the Pro-Life Clean Energy Campaign of the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN).

Today the Bureau of Land Management proposed new standards for natural gas waste from flaring, venting, and leaks from production operations on public and Indian lands. We applaud the BLM’s actions and are thankful this standard will help defend our children from the threats that fugitive methane releases have on our unborn and born children.